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Key Takeaways Lead with intention by protecting your best energy for what matters.
Invest attention like capital to create meaningful growth at work and home.
Early in my career, I recall many top business leaders and executives bragging about how busy they were. They took pride in wearing full suits to the office and carrying 10-12 hours of meetings and calls.
This “hustle culture” mentality isn’t new. For my two and a half decades in the business world, I’ve done my best to live and work in a different manner than what seemed popular. I’ve guided many entrepreneurs out of that hustle culture, helping them realize that activity and impact are not the same thing. Real growth doesn’t come from a slammed calendar; it comes from being fully invested where it counts.
Related: How to Quit the ‘Hustle’ Grind Before It Breaks You
Why founders mistake activity for progress
First, because looking busy feels like winning. I get it. Rapid-fire email replies provide a quick hit of accomplishment, a small dopamine rush that tells you that you’re important and you’re working hard. This is because our culture rewards speed and visibility and hands out gold stars for the optics of work.
Here’s the catch: you can sprint through ten things on your list, feel spent and proud and yet not much progress was made. You may still be the bottleneck, slowing your team’s growth, while they’re still waiting on that one decision that sets the direction. Activity is loud and easy to track and count, but it crowds the stage. Real progress might be quiet, and may come from a few challenging choices.
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